Pauline is vice-patron to the Rhys Daniels Trust, an honorary member of The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, a patron of the Ian Rennie Hospice at Home, a supporter of Children with Leukemia, Children in Crisis and Children’s Hospice UK and has appeared for charity in the Royal Variety Performance.

In 2007 Pauline opened her very first Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts. Now there are approximately 45 academies (at time of going to press, with more planned) teaching over 2,500 children aged between four and eighteen across the country the delights and disciplines of comedy and drama, musical theatre, film and television. For more information on Pauline’s academies please visit www.pqacademy.com.

Whilst recently starring in Emmerdale Pauline won a battle against her weight and lost almost eight stones in one year! She has written of the ups and downs of this adventure along with many other anecdotes in her recently published book, Where Have I Gone?

Since the last tour of ‘Birds of A Feather’ Pauline has starred alongside David Tennant in ITV’s 8 part drama ‘Broadchurch’ although we think her own dog ‘Bailey’ stole the show!

This year, 2013, sees Pauline celebrate an amazing forty-five years in this business we call ‘show’ and she sees the establishment of the Pauline Quirke Academies as the ultimate legacy.